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Lions to feature Playworks Play 60 recess during halftime

More than 400 children from Metro Detroit elementary schools will participate.

Allen Park, Mich.—Ford Field will transform into a giant recess during halftime of the Detroit Lions’ game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saturday, December 22. Approximately 400 metro Detroit elementary students will be teaming up with Lions alumni to highlight Living for the City’s Play 60 partnership with Playworks Detroit.

“Along with our partners, Playworks Detroit, XBOX Kinect and Blue Cross Blue Shield, we have a fiduciary responsibility to help support physical activity and play,’ said Detroit Lions Team President Tom Lewand. “This halftime program is a great opportunity to share our dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of Detroit area students with our fans.”

At the conclusion of the first half, Playworks Detroit will lead children in traditional recess activities including hula hoops, jump ropes and a game of ‘spiders and flies,’ a style of tag that will span the entire field. Lions alumni Lamar Campbell, Damien Gregory, Ron Rice and Cory Schlesinger will join the students during the halftime event.

"There is nothing like seeing the joy on a child's face when they are safely playing at recess", said Jeannine Gant, Playworks Executive Director in Detroit, "Playworks is so glad the Lions see the value of play in helping children get physically active."

To measure the combined movement of the whole recess group, select students will be wearing MOVbands, donated by MOVABLE. MOVbands are fun and simple wrist-worn activity monitors that can be used with MOVchallenges in schools to promote increased movement and goal-setting. An estimate of the students’ total movement will be made in the third quarter of the game.

"Having awareness of our daily physical activity is a key component to creating a healthy and active lifestyle. We are very excited to have this opportunity to use MOVbands to show how easy and fun it can be to increase your movement," Blake Squires, Founder and CEO of MOVABLE.

Playworks Detroit is a nonprofit organization that supports learning through safe, inclusive play and physical activity in schools through organized games and activities. They aim to teach valuable lessons such as cooperation, conflict resolution and social skills and through their partnership with Living for the City’s Play 60 initiative, Playworks is helping local students become active and play for at least 60 minutes a day.

ABOUT LIVING FOR THE CITY

Living for the City is the philanthropic program of The Detroit Lions. Its goal is to support transformational efforts that improve the well-being of metro Detroit’s underserved communities. Living for the City focuses on sustainable health and wellness initiatives and community development. Living for the City supports organizations that pursue integrated approaches to physical fitness, healthy eating, housing, land use and environmental planning, public transportation, community infrastructure, and aligned workforce opportunities. For more information, please visit www.detroitlions.com/community.

ABOUT PLAYWORKS DETROIT

Since 2010, Playworks Detroit has impacted over 20,000 children with opportunities for physical activity and play. Through Playworks’ school based programming, students not only increase their physical activity, but return to the classroom focused and ready to learn. Together, we create a welcoming school environment that is free from intimidation, interruptions and violence. We encourage an educational climate that fosters a spirit of acceptance and care for all students with zero tolerance for bullying. Through modeling healthy play and problem solving skills, Playworks encourages students to be a part of the solution rather than being perceived as part of the problem.

ABOUT MOVABLE

MOVABLE is on a mission to inspire movement and improve the health and performance of youth everywhere. By combining MOVchallenge, a group activity program that motivates children to be active and rewards them based on their progress, with MOVband, a simple, fun and affordable wrist-worn activity monitor, MOVABLE inspires, educates, motivates and encourages healthy habits. Developed by Blake and Michelle Squires, MOVABLE offers schools and organizations a fun and easy way to track daily movement, transform that movement into mileage and earn rewards based on progress. Learn more at www.movable.com.